Sabarimala Reference : Live Updates From Supreme Court 9-Judge Bench
LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK
7 April 2026 10:54 AM IST
A 9-judge bench of the Supreme Court will start hearing the Constitutional issues referred to the larger bench in the Sabarimala review.
Apart from CJI Surya Kant, the Bench comprises Justice BV Nagarathna, Justice MM Sundresh, Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Justice Aravind Kumar, Justice Augustine George Masih, Justice Prasanna B Varale, Justice R Mahadevan and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.
The seven questions before the Supreme Court are :
(i) What is the scope and ambit of right to freedom of religion under Article 25 of the Constitution of India?
(ii) What is the inter-play between the rights of persons under Article 25 of the Constitution of India and rights of religious denomination under Article 26 of the Constitution of India?
(iii) Whether the rights of a religious denomination under Article 26 of the Constitution of India are subject to other provisions of Part III of the Constitution of India apart from public order, morality and health?
(iv) What is the scope and extent of the word 'morality' under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution of India and whether it is meant to include Constitutional morality?
(v) What is the scope and extent of judicial review with regard to a religious practice as referred to in Article 25 of the Constitution of India?
(vi) What is the meaning of expression “Sections of Hindus” occurring in Article 25 (2) (b) of the Constitution of India?
(vii) Whether a person not belonging to a religious denomination or religious group can question a practice of that religious denomination or religious group by filing a PIL?
Follow this page for live updates.
Live Updates
- 7 April 2026 1:09 PM IST
SG: constitutional morality is a political doctrine
J Bagchi: that is why, I asked what would be the import of subject to other-Article 17 you have addressed but there is Article 15. That is why, equality can't be taken away on the grounds of sex. But if you see article 26, it is not subject to. we are fully aware that it has to be compatible
- 7 April 2026 12:59 PM IST
J Nagarathna: in the context of sabarimala controversy, how is article 26 relevant?
SG: their arguments was it is a religious denomination.
J Nagarathna: the temple is open to all hindus
SG: argument was it is a denominational temple and the court said its not. article 26(b) was placed to argue that it can manage its affairs- court said its not a denomination and 26(b) has been given an expansive meaning